ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the main features of urban segregation in our cities and notes the apparent trends in gentrification in our times. It shows how the processes of urban transformation currently in progress in many cities in southern Europe present specific and distinctive characteristics, which oblige us to approach with caution the concepts and analytical schemes formulated on basis of research into other realities. Gentrification must be considered expression of urban segregation, which in its turn, as we well know, is both a cause and consequence of social inequality. Urban segregation is phenomenon whereby different social groups tend to separate from each other within urban space according to their economic power, geographical origins, cultures or other social factors. The chapter concludes by pointing out how uncritical and decontextualised use of concept of gentrification can lead to political conclusions that are mistaken, to such an extent that they can prove counterproductive for design and application of urban policies for social equity.
